End of the Year

I was only told today that Indonesia has officially launched the Visit Indonesia Year 2008.

Jero Wacik, Indonesia’s Tourism Minister made the declaration on Wednesday night.

I had to find out through a friend of mine, and The Jakarta Post to confirm it.

I was at the Airport today, I saw nothing that indicated the official launching. Where did the US$15 million promotion budget go?

Oh New Year’s coming soon. Everyone is psyched.

I miss the paper trumpets that are sold around Jakarta/Indonesia.

During New Year’s Eve the whole Jakarta would sound like a symphony of dysfunctional marching bands (intense sound pollution). I should have brought some to Malaysia.

A woman selling paper trumpets in Jakarta

(picture from www.thejakartpost.com)

On an unrelative note, Christmas day wasn’t a happy day to many people. Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc., were swept by deadly rain and land-slides.

Let’s hope for a better year in 2008.